What should you bring when leaving in an emergency?

It’s not nice to think about having to leave your home or possessions behind in an emergency. However, in extreme cases, such as with advancing floods, storms or other extreme conditions it might be necessary.

When you have to leave your home, it tends to be in a hurry, which is why having a bag prepared can help make sure you aren’t going to struggle. Planning ahead is always going to be beneficial, but what should you bring with you?

A pack per person

Each person you’re responsible for should have a pre-prepared pack of essentials, ready for if you need to leave in a hurry.

In the case of babies and small children, these could be grouped together for ease. This allows you to carry what they need, alongside your own pack.

Going with a bag per person means you aren’t necessarily limiting what you can bring. You also might not need to skimp on quantities of equipment or the items you take with you. This extra flexibility allows you to be prepared for a wider variety of situations.

In some situations, you might be evacuated to a safe area, such as in the event of flooding. In others, a safe area might not be in place, so you’ll simply need to get away from danger. This is why it can be a good idea to pack emergency kits that allow you to camp or shelter without outside aid.

Essential items

Everyone in your family will have different needs. For example, there’s more required to look after a baby. Or perhaps people in your group have different medical needs. This all should be accounted for.

For example, when travelling with a baby you might need to think more carefully about food, nappies and changes of clothes. Or with someone who has specific medical needs, you might need to consider how to transport medication, such as a cooler bag for moving insulin.

When you’re planning your emergency packs, draw up a list for each person, and list their specific needs and requirements. You can be quite broad at this point, covering a variety of items such as:

Toiletries

Food and emergency cooking equipment

Money

Medication

Clothing

Important documents – such as passports or other identification

Entertainment – like small toys to comfort and distract small children

Sentimental items

Sleeping bags

Then, once you have this list, you can begin narrowing down your points until you have the essential items for each person. This is what should absolutely be in their bags. Any extra space can then be used to accommodate other items that are seen as secondary.

Where should you store your packs?

If you need to leave in a hurry, the items you take with you should be somewhere easily accessible. This might be in a wardrobe, a cupboard under the stairs, or by a door.

This allows you to quickly leave in the event of an emergency, without running the risk of waiting around too long. Taking these steps are hugely important, especially in areas where conditions can change quickly, such as in areas prone to heavy flooding.

Part of your preparedness planning should include a plan for how to quickly evacuate your home when needed. This should include making sure everyone responsible for taking a bag with them knows where they are. Doing this allows you to evacuate more quickly, which can be a major help to emergency services, helping to get you and your family out of danger more efficiently.

How can we help you to prepare for any situation?

A crucial part of any preparedness plan are your supplies. With an emergency pack, it’s always a good idea to include at least one or two items of long-lasting food, just in case.

At Fuel Your Preparation, we provide a range of freeze-dried meals which can help ensure you have access to nutritious, tasty meals, at any time. Our breakfasts, mains and desserts are:

Easy to prepare – Simply add water and wait for the meal to rehydrate

Expertly cooked prior to being freeze-dried, ensuring they taste fantastic

Freeze-dried to create a product with a lengthy shelf life. Each pouch lasts for seven years, while tins last for 25 years

Nutritious – Bursting with the carbohydrates and protein you need to feel warm and full

Thanks to their lightweight packaging, the meals can fit comfortably into a bag. This means that whatever situation and wherever you are, you will still have access to some delicious and nutritious meals to help you wait out an emergency and keep morale levels high.

To find out more about our range of freeze-dried survival foods, take a look at our meals page or contact us to speak to a member of our team.